PILAR, Bataan – The Department of Health (DOH) has officially opened the Bataan General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Services (BUCAS) center in Pilar town.
As the 49th BUCAS facility in the country, the fifth in Central Luzon, and the first in Bataan, the BGHMC BUCAS aims to enhance the region’s healthcare system by providing fast, affordable, and reliable services for common illnesses.
The facility seeks to decongest hospitals and bring medical services closer to those in need, empowering communities in the process.
In his message, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa reiterated the DOH’s commitment to ensuring that “Bawat Pilipino Ramdam ang Kalusugan (Every Filipino feels healthy)” and providing “Ligtas, Dekalidad, at Mapagkalingang Serbisyo (Safe, quality, and compassionate healthcare services),” key components of the department’s 8-Point Action Agenda.
Herbosa emphasized that BUCAS centers play a critical role in improving healthcare accessibility, especially in areas where hospital services are limited.
“These facilities address immediate but non-life-threatening health needs, relieving pressure on our hospitals,” Herbosa said.
BGHMC Chief Glory Baltazar linked the opening of the center to the province’s wartime legacy, specifically the Bataan Death March.
“During the war, Bataan lacked proper facilities to treat wounded soldiers, and the situation was unbearable. Although we are no longer at war, we want to prevent history from repeating itself by ensuring accessible medical treatment, particularly for those struggling financially to secure care,” she said.
Baltazar also explained that the DOH operates and manages the BUCAS center as a strategic initiative to provide high-quality outpatient care for ambulatory-sensitive conditions.
“This is only the beginning. The DOH, through the BGHMC, will continue to enhance and expand medical services across the country until quality care and treatment are within reach of every Filipino,” she added.
The center offers a wide range of services, including urgent care, laboratory diagnostics, radiology, and pharmacy, all available daily from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
It also provides specialized outpatient clinics, including Family Health, Children’s Health, Women’s Health, Klinika sa Mata, Internal Medicine, Surgery, ENT-Head and Neck, Dental, and Nutrition and Dietetics, available by appointment or on a scheduled basis.
Additionally, the center offers screening services for cancer, HIV, tuberculosis, sexually transmitted infections, diabetes, and hypertension.
Coinciding with the 83rd Araw ng Kagitingan, the inauguration stands as a symbol of both remembrance and resilience—a testament to the government’s dedication to accessible and quality healthcare, while honoring the heroism rooted in Bataan’s past. (CLJD/RPQ, PIA Region 3-Bataan)